McCrackin Distillery in Woodford County

Has anyone ever heard of the McCrackin Distillery in Woodford County? The National Historic Register list it as being a distillery and mill located on on KY-1659(the same road as Woodford Reserve, Old Taylor, and Old Crow. Does anyone know if there use to be another distillery on that road as well?

Re: McCrackin Distillery in Woodford County

The structure is in bad shape and missing the the outside on one half of it. I was able to get a picture of that side, and the spacing between the rails looks much small than a typical tobacco barn. Could those be about the size to hold barrels?
I found a reference on a historic website that said the McCrackin Distillery and Mill were examples of stone structures. I always thought this was a cool barn, but maybe it isn't really a barn. I never thought it might be an old warehouse.

Re: McCrackin Distillery in Woodford County

I would say it probably was a whiskey warehouse. It's in the right location for one and there seems to be little reason to build a limestone barn, even if limestone is plentiful, as it is around there. If you can get inside, check out the foundations. Because of the weight of full whiskey barrels, rackhouses have substantial foundations and not just along the building's perimeter but every few feet across the entire ground level.

In that area, I suppose a thoroughbred stable is a possibility. Again, the foundation will tell the tale.

Re: McCrackin Distillery in Woodford County

Re: McCrackin Distillery in Woodford County

I thought the same thing about the x bracing, and that made me think it was just a barn. Then I thought the same thing as Chuck said, 'why build a limestore barn?'; so I thought it may have been a former warehouse that was altered for other farm uses. Who knows!

Re: McCrackin Distillery in Woodford County

This could be a pre-1872 warehouse. In 1872, Fredrick Stitzel patented the system of ricks used in the warehouses today. Before that the stone warehouses all looked similar to the whiskey warehouse that can be seen along I64 just before the Georgetown exit. This building does have a similar look with the tall windows and stone structure.